Apple remotes are noted for their simplicity. After all, they have less buttons than TV remote. Now, they are about to become even simpler.

Apple has filed a patent that shows a 3D motion remote that you would be able to control by pointing at items on the screen. It would communicate with Apple TVs via IR, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi.

Furthermore, this magical remote-like device could include non-traditional input methods.This would most likely entail a touchscreen, given Apple's fetish for aluminum and glass, which would dramatically improve the utility of the remote. For example, searching for a movie in the iTunes store with the remote would no longer require a 20-minute excercise in frustration. 

As always, there is no guarantee this will ever come to fruition. We think touchscreen remotes are too low-tech for Apple. A more likely candidate would be a remote CONTROLLED BY YOUR BRAIN.